I should be working (this is usually the case during a weekday), but became so distracted when I saw these bowls on sfgirlbybay that I came to a screeching halt and am trying to decide if I should just suck it up and buy one or two of these for myself, or wait and see if someone gets them for me for Christmas.

My aunt talks about saying a blessing when you see something beautiful, and I think these certainly warrant a blessing.

{PrinceDesignUK at etsy}

new creation

last night i finished the clutch from the amy butler book, In Stitches. all in all, it wasn't too difficult, so i of course had to make things harder on myself by using plaid! that just forced me to think a little more before i stitched (oh, and forced me to rip out some more seams, too...blah). it's sort of a weird choice for me, but i think i like it because it's a weird choice for me. =) the fabric was thrifted and only cost about $1!

i don't love the cotton batting, it reminds me a little bit of an oven mitt, but that could have something to do with the plaid. i might remake this bag with a different fabric or a vintage silk scarf...and maybe with less batting (or none at all--jut an interfacing). i also added a handle (inspired by so many lovely creations on flickr)--which helps, since this would be a weirdly large clutch otherwise.

hey, i was featured on hyena-in-petticoats' blog for Thrifted Tuesday!!! for my sweet little 80s, waechtersbach west german coffee cup/saucer & coffeepot (which i thrifted a few weeks ago). the coffee cup is espresso sized, quite small.
it was all just too cute to pass up.

maxine runs free!

wendy just posted this on her blog, and it's so lovely. i think we've become so distanced from the earth and our "food" (i, personally don't believe animals are food...) that a little wake-up call can be necessary.

yay, maxine!!

sheila bridges

i cannot for the life of me remember where i found these pictures of sheila bridges' home, but i LOVE the writing on the walls. she had someone (??) come in and paint portions of her favorite books on her walls. i may not go for pink and grey, but i'd love to figure out a way to incorporate something like this into my home....just maybe on a smaller scale.

smosch

one of my very favorite blogs is smosch. a swedish blogger, the photos she posts almost daily are so peaceful and lovely. i would LOVE to go to sweden someday...but until then, her blog gives me a beautiful glimpse in. she recently posted a link to her flickr account of her home...and it's LOVELY.
this wallpaper is incredible =)



i also love her cabinets and think i might try to convince the mister to let us paint ours in a sunny yellow (if only we had those gorgeous plank floors).

you got it girl...

this is my new, absolute favorite movie. i'd say more, but i just don't feel that it's necessary.

eagle vs shark

etsy

a lover of etsy...i have an obsession (especially as i get ready to launch my OWN etsy site!!) with how many different handmade categories of hand made things you can find. my newest etsy thrill are all the shops offering custom made clothing. while i've never been very stylish, i've always loved clothes (i always manage to buy the strangest things because i love them. i couldn't be "in style" no matter how hard i tried--of course...why fight it??). for the price of something from anthropologie (which i love, but am often disappointed with their quality considering how much most of their items cost), you can find something equally as cute and far more personal and unique on etsy. aaannndd...custom made to fit your body (what a concept!). aaaannnnddd...made by an individual which benefits them directly--not some giant corporation who exploits their workers in china or some other third world country.


below are some of my favorites, but i've found, once i start looking, i keep finding more and more. i had to draw the line somewhere!

trapperjane offers custom skirts and jeans...i think all of these are really cute:

treehouse28 is a huge etsy phenomenon...and with good reason.

gaiaconceptions offers custom-made clothing out of eco-friendly materials (hemp, organic cotton and wool, raw silk). lovely.

while it doesn't appear that finnbiskit offers custom made pieces (i'm sure you could contact them and find out), i really love their whimsical skirts made from hemp and organic cotton.

janebonbon does offer custom-made pieces and they're not only cute, but refreshingly free of stick-thin models. for a change of pace, she offers up through plus-size dresses made-to-order. very cute and flattering for any figure.

{such a beautiful skirt!}

not that i spend much time looking for swim-wear (ack!!), but i did stumble upon missbrache and her very retro, very cute, very modest, very well-designed bathing suits. if i can muster up my courage, i might have this made (i love the madras/plaid...but not sold on horizontal stripes for my body =)).

now, accessories on etsy would take a lifetime, being that there are so many amazing designers...but a few of my favorites are:

moop...i LOVE this bag and i'm saving my pennies to buy it (we'll see how long i can put this off). not only do i love the color and design of the bag, but i love her approach to design, the envirnment, etc...

i just found this today, and excuse the orange (can't resist orange), but i love this circular shawl from kelgwo (actually, she is out of stock in the orange, but has several colors to choose from, which you can see at the bottom of the photo).

i have so many more stores and items saved, which will just have to wait for another day. and hopefully, a link to my up-and-going etsy shop!

card

one of my first purchases on etsy was from heatherjeany...and she's still one of my favorite etsy sellers. today i couldn't resist her gocco valentine's day card. i may even keep it for myself!

love

a lover of good, dark chocolate, i was thrilled to see the new (to me & my grocery store anyway) Green & Black's Cherry. i was even more excited to taste it! bittersweet dark chocolate with very very tangy cherries.

heaven.